4 Contents: 1. Introduction Brown bear biology and ecology Brown bear numbers and distribution in Poland Goals of the management plan Tools for the implementation of the management plan Bear Working Group Bear Emergency Team Bear Data Bank Standard Protocols Monitoring program Legal framework of the monitoring program Goals of the brown bear monitoring program in Poland Description of the brown bear monitoring program Schedule and estimated costs Diagnosis of the current situation and recommended actions Conservation of brown bear habitat and ecological connectivity Reduction of brown bear mortality and disturbance caused by humans Prevention and reduction of brown bear damages Avoidance of brown bear habituation and food conditioning Improvements of the welfare of bears in captivity Improve cooperation at national and international level Promote scientific and applied research Promote education and raise public awareness Legal requirements and changes proposed in the law Legal provisions Proposed changes in legislation Validity and revisions of the management plan. Schedule for implementation Annex

5 List of figures: Fig. 1. Distribution of the brown bear in Poland in according to the data gathered and following the geographical system of the Atlas of Polish Mammals Fig. 2. Brown bear records in the Polish Carpathians in , including females with cubs and damages Fig. 3. Predicted model of habitat suitability for the brown bear in Poland and Slovakia Fig. 4. Ecological corridors and critical points (current and potential) in the Polish Carpathians Fig. 5. Unfragmented areas in the Polish Carpathians, identified as those further than 500 m from the closest road or trail List of tables: Table 1. Current status of the brown bear population in the Carpathian countries according to the conservation status national reports Table 2. Preliminary results of brown bear genetic monitoring conducted in the main Polish bear refuges during Table 3. Summary of the different stages, tasks and timeframe for the different branches of the brown bear monitoring program in Poland Table 4. Estimated costs for each part of the monitoring program Table 5. Schedule of the monitoring program in Poland for the period Table 6. Compensation costs (PLN) paid annually for damages caused by brown bears in the areas of brown bear occurrence in the period Table 7. The classification of risk assessments based on bear behavior and recommended actions. In brackets, actions that may be also recommended depending on the situation Table 8. Schedule for the implementation of the recommended actions

6 Preface The Brown Bear Management Plan for Poland is the first comprehensive document to offer fundamental guidelines for brown bear conservation and management in Poland. This plan is (1) based on current scientific knowledge, (2) based on accepted and ratified international conventions, guidelines and recommendations related to brown bear conservation worldwide and in Europe, and (3) placed within the legislative, administrative, and social frameworks present in Poland. It is envisioned as a flexible document, to be revised periodically and adapted to new situations, framed with a broad and European perspective. This conservation plan is conceived as a concise and operative document for the implementation of bear management in practice, thus we have kept it as short and clear as possible. However, we did not want to miss the opportunity to provide additionally a brown bear manual (Annex 1, Ecology, status and management of the brown bear in Poland ) which encompasses all updated information we consider relevant for a sensitive management of the species in Poland. This is of special importance because, opposite to the other two species of large carnivores, for which extended research and numerous scientific papers exists in Poland, the brown bear has received comparatively much less attention. As a result, brown bear management has been often based rather on impressions than on real data. This compilation of the current scientific knowledge on brown bears into Annex 1, with all pertinent references and analysis, into a single document is, thus, of high value by itself. It has two main goals: to provide authorities and managers with basic information to take decisions and to have a critical opinion, and to provide scientific support for our recommendations and proposed measures. In this sense, it represents a crucial change in relation to past experiences, by promoting decision making on the basis of real scientific data. We also provide a summary of proposed measures for each suggested line of action, and a concrete schedule of the implementation of the plan. Workshops have constituted an important part in the preparation of this document (Annex 2, 3, 4 and 5). Numerous people, institutions and NGOs have contributed to this management plan; they have generously provided unpublished data, unpublished results and reports of bear observations for the good of bears and the plan. The advice and consultation of experts on specific topics, such as legislation or the preparation of standard protocols, has been constant. Few studies have been conducted specially for this plan, like the bear number assessment based on molecular genetic data and the analysis of habitat fragmentation and ecological corridors. The Brown Bear Management Plan for Poland promotes modern, science- based management, which involves considering the brown bear as a relevant element of the ecosystem and highlighting the importance of preserving natural bear habitats and promoting their sustainable use. We believe the present plan represents a milestone in the future conservation of brown bears in Poland and the Carpathians. 5

7 1. Introduction The brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Poland is a protected species, listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and classified as a priority species. Some of the obligations derived from the Habitats Directive are to maintain a favourable conservation status of the brown bear population, to monitor and report it periodically to the European Commission and to guarantee enough suitable habitat. The legal requirements at the international level, together with the fact that brown bears can also get in conflict with humans, makes highly recommended to develop and implement a management plan for the brown bear in Poland 1. On the other hand, the brown bear population in Poland is transboundary and represents the most northern range of the Carpathian population. The existence of clear conservation policy and goals within the management plan in Poland may greatly facilitate the coordination of management policies and agreements among neighboring countries sharing the bear population (Slovakia and Ukraine). Some of the key problems that the present management plan tries to face and solve are: (1) the lack of reliable monitoring methods, (2) the lack of or insufficient coordination and communication among responsible institutions and sectors involved in bear management in the region, (3) the lack of or insufficient scientific knowledge on species biology, ecology and conservation in Poland, and (4) the lack of or insufficient proper implementation of the existing legislation and real protection of brown bears. One of the most important challenges for the conservation of brown bears in Poland is the preservation of their habitat. The lack of spatial planning in Poland, leading to the fragmentation and loss of bear habitat through unplanned and dispersed building, often in remote areas, is a key issue. Human disturbance to bears, conflicts with humans, mainly damages to beehives, increasing food conditioning due to intentional feeding and inadequate management of rubbish, are among other problems to be solved as soon in the field. The situation of captive bears, the cooperation with neighboring countries, mainly Slovakia, and the promotion of research and education are also pending issues. 1 Swenson J.E., Gerstl N., Dahle B. & Zedrosser A Action plan for the conservation of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe. T- PVS (2000) 24. Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France. 6

8 The Polish society is undergoing rapid changes, also in the perception of its natural heritage. Society demands for an effective protection of bear and its habitat, as well as the need for recreation may be expected to increase in the close future. Our common duty is to ensure that bears can survive in their natural habitats in Poland, coexist with people, and next generations will still enjoy them. 7

9 2. Brown bear biology and ecology The brown bear is a species with large spatial requirements, low reproductive rates and is very sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation and to human disturbance, especially in winter. The impact of human persecution on the current distribution range of the species has been significant, so the habitats presently used by bears do not necessarily represent the most suitable for the species. The areas occupied by bears must provide not only abundant food, but also the opportunity to cover. Across Europe, bears are mostly constrained to forested and rather remote and mountainous areas. Brown bears in Poland belong to the same genetic lineage which was found in Slovakia, i.e. to the most widespread clade which includes brown bears from northern and eastern Europe (northern Scandinavia, Baltic region, eastern Russia, northern Carpathians), Asia and Alaska. In adult individuals there is a considerable sexual dimorphism in body size, males being bigger. Within and between- year variation of individual body weight is also very large. Bears are omnivores. The composition of their food varies depending on the local food availability and season. At the biogeographical scale, their diet also changes with the location (latitude, longitude and altitude) and mainly with environmental factors (temperature and snow cover). In the forests of the temperate zone, fruits and invertebrates prevail in bear diet, whereas in the tundra vertebrates do. In some locations, food of anthropogenic origin (e.g. supplemental food, fruits from orchards) represents the main component of bear diet. The annual cycle of bears is divided into four physiological states: winter dormacy, hypophagia, normal activity and hyperphagia. Far north, winter dormancy may last even longer than 7 months; however, in populations from warmer regions some individuals may stay active throughout the year. The length of winter dormancy varies among bear populations and, as a general pattern, the higher the latitude, the longer the period of hibernation. Pregnant females enter winter den sites the first and emerge from them the last. The duration of winter denning also depends on the age of individuals. Adult males are the last to den and the first to leave their dens. Females with cubs stay relatively close to their den sites until mid- May. Although bears usually 8

10 show a high degree of fidelity to their denning areas, winter dens are reused only exceptionally. The mating season of the brown bear usually begins at the beginning of May and lasts till July. The individuals at reproductive age belonging to both sexes mate multiple times often with several partners. Cubs are born during winter dormancy from December to March. At the time of birth, cubs are bald and blind and weigh about grams. The average litter size ranges from cubs and varies among populations. Cubs in one litter can be sired by different fathers. The reproductive period of females can last from 3 to 29 years of age, with the highest productivity at the age of 8-9 years. In most populations, the mother nurses her offspring for 1.4 to 3.5 years. The largest mortality among brown bears occurs in the first year of life. Infanticide by males is considered to be a major cause of cub mortality, at least in some populations. In most brown bear populations the main cause of mortality is of human origin. In nature, the oldest bears observed were over 30 years; the oldest captive bear was 50 years old, and the oldest female 42 years. Brown bears are not territorial, and their home ranges significantly overlap. This overlapping is greatest in the case of females, especially if they are kin- related. Home ranges of males are usually larger, encompassing those of several females. Annual home range sizes vary considerably among populations. In Europe, the home ranges of males vary from 128 km 2 in Croatia to 1,600 km 2 in central Sweden, whereas for females from 58 km 2 to 225 km 2, respectively. Dispersing young males may have annual home ranges up to 12,000 km 2. In Scandinavia, females at the age of 2 to 4 years move on average 28 km from the center of their natal home range, while 4- year old males disperse an average distance of 119 km. The maximum dispersal distance recorded is 467 km for males and 90 km for females. More information and references in Annex 1. 9

11 3. Brown bear numbers and distribution in Poland Brown bears living in Poland represent a small part of the Carpathian population, which currently extends over the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia. It is estimated to be about 8,100 of individuals. Although bears can be found along the Carpathian range, the distribution of breeding females is discontinuous. The population divides into three segments. The western segment covers most of Slovakia, and the Tatra Mountains and Beskid Żywiecki in Poland. The largest part of the Carpathian population inhabits the main Carpathian chain and extends from the Bieszczady region (encompassing Bieszczady Mountains and surrounding areas) and Slovakian "Poloniny" through Ukraine and Romania to Serbia. The third segment occupies the Apuseni Mountains in western Romania. The whole Carpathian population has been classified as vulnerable (at risk of being endangered); in some regions bears are locally endangered 2. The whole brown bear population in Poland is transboundary, thus bears are under various protection measures, depending on which side of the border they stay, and ranging from complete protection in Poland to protected, but game species in Slovakia or game species in Ukraine (Table 1). Brown bears, which once were found nearly across all Europe, disappeared from most regions of the continent by end of the 17 th century. Already in the beginning of the XIX century, the western and eastern subpopulations of the northern Carpathians become isolated, which is reflected in their current genetic differentiation 3. In Poland, after the World War II, bears persisted only in the Tatra and Bieszczady Mountains; their total numbers at that time were estimated in individuals. Since then, the population started to recover slowly. According to the last report on the conservation status of 2 Linnell J.D.C., Salvatori V. & Boitani L Guidelines for population level management plans for large carnivores in Europe. A Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe report prepared for the European Commission (contract /2005/424162/MAR/B2). 3 Straka M., Paule L., Ionesku O., Štofík J. & Adamec M. Microsatellite diversity and structure of Carpathian brown bears (Ursus arctos): consequences of human caused fragmentation. Conservation genetics. Published online 8 th of October

13 In 2010, within the framework of the project for the preparation of the present plan, systematic bear hair sampling was conducted during all the year in the Tatra Mountains and Bieszczady region for population estimates based on molecular methods (see Annex 1 for details). The total number of individual bears identified by

14 model (see chapter 7.1). Although traditionally and also in this report 5, the brown bear distribution in Poland is considered continuous, in our opinion there are not reliable data supporting this statement. The current distribution of brown bears in Poland was estimated for the purpose of the present plan on the basis of (1) our own research and observations carried out mainly in the Tatra mountains and the Bieszczady region, (2) the information obtained through questionnaires from the forestry districts and national parks located in the rest of the Polish Carpathians, (3) the location of damages caused by bears collected by the Regional Directorates of Environmental Protection, and (4) data on bear occurrence in the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki provided by the Association for Nature "Wolf". Only the most recent data, obtained in the period were used to estimate the current bear distribution (Fig. 1 and 2). The permanent distribution is clearly discontinuous, with two main reproductive areas in Tatra (western segment) and Bieszczady region (eastern segment). The third area of permanent bear presence and occasional reproduction is Beskid Żywiecki. In other parts of the Polish Carpathians, especially in the region between Tatra and Bieszczady, bears are observed rather occasionally and, in some regions, they have not been observed at all in the last two years. Bears in Tatra and Beskid Żywiecki are parts of the western segment of the Carpathian population, while these from the Bieszczady region belongs to the eastern segment. The connectivity between the western and eastern segments seems to be very limited, not only in Poland, but also in Slovakia 6,7. Although the habitat in the linkage zone between Tatra and Bieszczady seems to be suitable, bears are not settling there. This issue deserves further investigation (see in further chapters). Dispersing individuals can be sometimes observed far from the areas of permanent presence, and in very exceptional occasions even in north- eastern Poland (Fig. 1 and 2). 5 Jakubiec Z Op. cit. 6 Find o S., Skuban M. & Koreň M Brown bear corridors in Slovakia. Carpathian Wildlife Society Slovakia, Zvolen, Slovakia. 7 Straka M., Paule L., Ionesku O., Štofík J. & Adamec M. Op. cit. 13

15 Fig. 1. Distribution of the brown bear in Poland in according to the data gathered and following the geographical system of the Atlas of Polish Mammals

16 Fig. 2. Brown bear records in the Polish Carpathians in , including females with cubs and damages. 15

17 4. Goals of the management plan The vision of this plan is the preservation of a viable natural brown bear population and its habitat in a favourable conservation status in coexistence with humans. This vision reflects an ecosystem approach and calls for promoting the bears natural behavior, preserving their natural habitat, maintaining ecological processes and considering bears as an important element of forest ecosystems. The plan also aims at providing reliable data and detailed guidelines to authorities and managers to solve existing or potential conflicts and take management decisions based on scientific evidence. The general goal of the management plan for the brown bear in Poland is to guarantee the long- term conservation of the species and its habitat by providing the managers, authorities and interest groups with effective conservation measures, precise information on the population and habitat conservation status and guidelines to prevent and/or solve the conflicts with humans. The plan will set the framework for the coordination of the management measures and for future decisions based on scientific data and monitoring. This goal will be accomplished only if the following specific objectives are achieved: (1) Preserve the natural bear habitat and its quality. (2) Prevent, react to and provide solutions to all kinds of human- bear conflict situations. (3) Avoid bear habituation and food conditioning. (4) Minimize bear damages, especially to beehives. (5) Preserve and improve the connectivity between the reproductive nuclei in the western and eastern Polish Carpathians. (6) Maintain a stable and continuous bear population along the northern Carpathian range in cooperation with Slovakia and Ukraine. 16

18 (7) Decrease and control brown bear mortality due to human factors. (8) Implement a solid and coherent monitoring program and create a reliable and available brown bear Data Bank. (9) Promote the coordination of management activities and information flow among involved sectors. (10) Improve the scientific and public knowledge on the species in Poland. (11) Keep the public informed by making available monitoring data and annual reports. (12) Establish a permanent and close cooperation with Slovakia and Ukraine and increase the international cooperation. (13) Promote public awareness and participation in brown bear issues and monitoring. (14) Improve the living conditions of captive bears. (15) Promote environmental education in all social sectors. (16) Guarantee the proper implementation of the existing legislation and a real protection of brown bears and their habitat. 17

19 5. Tools for the implementation of the management plan The coordination of all parties involved is the first and most important step, and one of the main objectives of the presented plan. The establishment of the Bear Working Group, Bear Emergency Team, Bear Data Bank, and Standard Protocols are proposed as the most effective tools for the implementation of the management plan. They represent an answer to the poor coordination in relation to the availability of data and information, conservation and research activities and communication. The underlying ideas that form the basis of these proposals are transparency, involvement of all interested groups in bear management, teamwork and strong cooperation within the group, as well as an open access to information and data. Detailed information on the tools to implement the management plan is provided in Annex Bear Working Group The concept of the proposed Bear Working Group is based on the experiences of working groups from other countries. These experiences show that the coordination of management actions by a group of experts is a guarantee for a high- quality output and information flow and exchange. The Bear Working Group is a competent, transparent and democratic body that provides substantial support for all population management issues, coordinates measures and activities, and supervises the implementation of the management plan. The Group is formed by an interdisciplinary team of scientists, biologists, conservation experts, veterinarians, NGOs and administration representatives and is based on the voluntary involvement of its members. The Bear Working Group will be formally established by the decision of the head of the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, who will also accept the Group s rules and bylaws. All information and reports on the activities of the Group will be available to the public. The Group acts as an independent and advisory body for the Ministry of Environment, and General and Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection. 18

20 Objective and structure The primary objective of the establishment of the Bear Working Group is, in agreement with those of the management plan, an effective protection and coordination of the brown bear population management in Poland, guaranteeing the survival of the species and the maintenance of a viable population in a favourable conservation status in coexistence with humans. The Group will promote and support the implementation of the plan, identify management issues and set up priorities for conservation measures and population management, as well as for research, captive bears welfare improvement and Bear Emergency Team trainings with the specific objectives: (a) Active protection of the brown bear population and problem solving by: (1) periodic evaluation and updating of the brown bear management plan and the development of annual action plans, (2) identifying and defining conservation problems and proposing solutions, (3) giving recommendations for human- bear conflict prevention, and coordinating appropriate actions in case of emergency interventions, (4) assessing the effectiveness of legislation and recommending changes, (5) informing the responsible authorities and advisory bodies (State Council for Nature Conservation) on activities which may adversely affect the bear population or habitat, (6) following- up and supporting court procedures related to direct or indirect threats to the bear population, (7) strengthening international cooperation, especially with countries in the Carpathian region, and (8) promoting conservation projects and cooperation with interested groups, also in fundraising for bear conservation activities; (b) Coordination of monitoring and scientific and applied research by: (1) coordinating and implementing the monitoring program proposed in the present document, (2) monitoring the bear habitat quality and investments that may affect the status of the population, (3) developing, implementation and standardization of protocols for population monitoring and their periodic updating, (4) monitoring of the situation of captive bears and promoting applied research and educational activities in this area, (5) promoting 19

21 coordination and ensuring the information flow between interest groups, (6) identifying gaps in scientific knowledge and promoting basic and applied research in these areas, and (7) establishing the Bear Data Bank; (c) Education and public information by: (1) promoting periodic workshops on the species, (2) creating a network of contacts between the administration, scientists, forestry administration, NGOs and media, (3) publishing annual reports on the Group activities, including the results of monitoring and updates of ongoing research, (4) supporting initiatives related to conservation education, (5) dissemination of knowledge on bear biology and ecology and promoting meetings and workshops with the participation of all sectors and people interested, and (6) raising public awareness through the creation of an official website containing information about the species and its population management and monitoring and that will promote public involvement in the monitoring program. We propose that the Bear Working Group will consist of 10 members with clearly defined tasks and competences. Each member is responsible for specific actions within the objectives of the Group: (1) Member on Monitoring, (2) Member on Conservation, (3) Member on Veterinary Issues, (4) Member on Science, (5) Member on Education and Communication, (6) Member on Captive Bears, (7) Member on Bear Emergency Team, (8) Member/Representative of the administration responsible for the species protection (the General Directorate for Environmental Protection), (9) Member/Representative of Slovakia and (10) Member/Representative of Ukraine. For a detailed description of each member s tasks, please see Annex 1. People interested in management issues, representatives of the Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection, experts from Slovakia and Ukraine, representatives of NGOs, or experts from other countries will be welcomed to take part in meetings of the Group. 20

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